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    Best golf-courses in La Jolla, San Diego

    Best of La Jolla

    The Best Golf-courses in La Jolla

    Coastal fine dining, cove views, and the UTC corridor.

    Last updated

    Quick answer

    Torrey Pines South is the best golf-courses in La Jolla — scored 91/100 in our citywide ranking. A U.S. Open course on public cliffs — nothing else in California matches the access. Also worth the trip: Torrey Pines North.

    La Jolla, before you go

    La Jolla is really three places stacked together: the Village around Girard and Prospect (walkable, expensive, view-driven), Bird Rock along La Jolla Boulevard (low-key, locals, roundabouts), and the UTC corridor inland (malls, offices, newer chain-adjacent dining). Which one you're aiming for changes the whole trip.

    Getting there
    About 15 minutes north of downtown on I-5 to La Jolla Parkway. The Blue Line trolley reaches UTC but not the Village — from UTC it's a bus or a rideshare down the hill.
    Parking
    Village street parking is metered and hunted; the Coast Walk and Prospect lots fill by 10am on weekends. Bird Rock is free curbside if you're willing to walk two blocks. UTC has free garage parking.
    When to go
    Weekday mornings for the Village, late afternoon for anything with a water view — the cove light between 5pm and sunset is the reason half these places charge what they charge.
    Local note
    Prospect Street prices carry a view premium. The same quality one street inland or down in Bird Rock usually costs noticeably less.

    Also worth your time in La Jolla

    These didn't make our citywide golf-courses ranking, but they're real local options worth knowing about when you're already in La Jolla.

    • Torrey Pines Golf Course

      La Jolla

      Order: A tee time on the South Course

      San Diego's public golf landmark above the Pacific. The North Course is the easier booking; the South Course is the bucket-list round.

    At a glance

    The Best Golf-courses in La Jolla — comparison
    PlaceAreaWhat to getPriceScore
    Torrey Pines SouthLa Jolla18 holes, championship tees$110–29091
    Torrey Pines NorthLa Jolla18 holes$80–20089
    Best of San Diego 2026 winner badge — Golf Courses In La JollaBest of San Diego 2026Winner — Golf Courses In La Jolla
    #1

    Torrey Pines South

    La Jolla
    Order: 18 holes, championship tees$110–290

    A U.S. Open course on public cliffs — nothing else in California matches the access.

    The South Course hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens and plays every bit as hard as that suggests. Conditioning is tournament-grade and the ocean holes on the back nine are among the most photographed in golf. Rounds run over five hours.

    Read our full Torrey Pines South review — scored 91/100 in our Best Golf Courses in San Diego with pros, cons and what to order.

    Local tip: San Diego residents get dramatically reduced rates with a resident card; book through the city system.

    91
    Experience
    97
    Consistency
    90
    Value
    72
    Atmosphere
    96
    Uniqueness
    99
    #2

    Torrey Pines North

    La Jolla
    Order: 18 holes$80–200

    The friendlier Torrey course, with the same cliffs and better pace.

    After the Weiskopf redesign the North Course is a legitimate championship layout with more forgiving landing areas and the same ocean views. It plays faster than South.

    Read our full Torrey Pines North review — scored 89/100 in our Best Golf Courses in San Diego with pros, cons and what to order.

    Local tip: Play North first if you're new to the property — South will punish you otherwise.

    89
    Experience
    92
    Consistency
    90
    Value
    80
    Atmosphere
    94
    Uniqueness
    90

    Full profiles

    Torrey Pines SouthTorrey Pines North

    How La Jolla places citywide

    We score every golf-courses pick in San Diego on the same criteria, so these 2 La Jolla entries can be read against the other 6 on the citywide list. La Jolla averages 90/100 here against a citywide average of 87/100, and the citywide winner — Torrey Pines South — is in this neighborhood.

    Price spread in La Jolla: $110–290 to $80–200 — compare the current menu before you visit.

    Make a day of it in La Jolla

    What changed in this update

    Every revision to this ranking, newest first — additions, removals, and rank moves.

    1. Latest

      • List published with 8 scored picks.
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    Reader picks

    Our rankings are editorial. This part is yours — vote for your favorite golf-courses in la jolla in San Diego. One vote per reader.

    Want the full city picture? See our complete best golf courses in san diego ranking →

    Planning more than one stop? See our La Jolla guide →

    How we score

    How we scored it

    40%

    Experience

    How good the core activity or service actually is.

    20%

    Consistency

    Repeatability across visits and staff.

    20%

    Value

    Price relative to what you get.

    10%

    Atmosphere

    Setting, crowd, and comfort.

    10%

    Uniqueness

    Something you can't get elsewhere in San Diego.

    This list covers courses the public can actually book. Private clubs are excluded regardless of quality.

    FAQ

    What is the best golf-courses in La Jolla?

    Torrey Pines South is our top-scored pick for golf-courses in La Jolla (91/100). A U.S. Open course on public cliffs — nothing else in California matches the access.

    How many golf-courses spots in La Jolla made the list?

    2 La Jolla spots scored high enough to make our citywide golf-courses ranking. Every pick is scored with the same criteria we use across San Diego.

    What does it cost?

    Expect roughly $110–290, $80–200 across these La Jolla picks.

    Where do you park for golf-courses in La Jolla?

    Village street parking is metered and hunted; the Coast Walk and Prospect lots fill by 10am on weekends. Bird Rock is free curbside if you're willing to walk two blocks. UTC has free garage parking.

    When is the best time to go in La Jolla?

    Weekday mornings for the Village, late afternoon for anything with a water view — the cove light between 5pm and sunset is the reason half these places charge what they charge.

    How do La Jolla picks compare to the rest of San Diego?

    Torrey Pines South ranks 1st of 8 in our citywide golf-courses ranking. La Jolla picks average 90/100 against a citywide average of 87/100.

    About this guide

    Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.

    San Diego focused. Places and practical planning across the county.
    Kept current. Confirm prices, hours, and closures with the venue.
    Independent. Affiliate links never influence rankings.

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